Kodoku no Fortress
Prologue
By Spirit-hime
************
"Where is she?"
"She should have gotten off work hours ago."
"Have you tried calling her?"
"I hope this rain lets up."
"Maybe we should go looking for her."
"You think so?"
"She's a big girl. She can take care of herself."
The guests were all becoming antsy, and with good reason. Be here at
seven, they had said. Don't be late, you might miss her! But as the
hour approached eleven, the guest of honor still refused to make an
appearance. Cake frosting and party dresses alike began to melt under
the oppressive weight of expectant waiting. Wine and coke had long
become flat, food trays looked picked at and were showing the early
stages of staleness. October rain splattered against the darkened
windowpanes, creating eerie stomping noises throughout the spacious house.
Conversation was reduced to the occasional comment or impatient muttering.
While their spirits no longer soared as high as the ceiling, one
sparkling, shining silver banner managed to brighten the shady rafters.
The red letters upon it read "Happy Birthday Setsuna".
The plan had been in development for weeks. Few were aware of the date
of the mysterious woman's birthday, and those who were acknowledged it with
polite discreteness: on her bed in the early morning light she would find
a card from Hotaru, possibly with some flowers, and in the evening the
four women of the household would sit down to dinner together and gifts
would be left by her plate or her chair. She would not be expected to
open them immediately, or even with anyone watching, and she would thank
each accordingly in the days afterwards. That was how it went, just like
clockwork. Hotaru had once asked Setsuna why so little was done for her
birthday, but her eldest mother merely brushed her off, replying that birthdays
are not important to her. Upon asking the other women who shared the massive
house, the only answer she recieved was that Setsuna does not like birthdays.
Hotaru knew there was more to that, in the way that Setsuna often vanished
for the entire day, only to turn up again minutes before dinner. Or the way
that Haruka and Michiru were ever-so-careful to always have a fresh-cut dusty
purple rose set on the table on that day. That was her favorite flower,
Hotaru knew. The dusty purple rose with the strange name of "Blue Bird".
When the young woman discussed this unusual trend with her closest friend, Chibi
Usa, the pink haired girl instantly responded with an idea. A surprise party!
Surely Puu would love that! The girls giggled with anticipation as their party
ideas sprang forth. Hotaru's other adopted parents were not completely receptive
to the idea at first, but they soon succumed to the child's pleas. The plans were
carefully laid out with Puu's many other friends. Before long the entire party
had been established, complete with nine sailor senshi (plus a not-quite-as-female
senshi), three felines, and one chocolate
spice cake.
The sound of footsteps on the pavement outside brought everyone to attention.
"Quick, she's coming!"
The lights flicked off, bodies crouched down, Usagi recieving a hard pinch from
Rei to convince her to be quiet. The door swung open, creaking slightly on its
hinges. A figure stepped inside and reached for the light switch.
"SURPRISE!"
The question was, who was the surprise for?
It was Setsuna, alright. There was no mistaking that garnet hair. As it was, the
dark green strands had plastered themselves across her face and arms, one especially
annoying one finding its way between her eyes and down across her nose. Her face
looked a little more pale than it should have been, red-rimmed eyes painted with
mascara that smeared across her cheeks. Her long black skirt was frayed in the back,
and dripped with as much rain water as her hair, forming a puddle at her feet.
She did not scream in surprise, nor did she happily giggle at her friends. She
only stared at them, her crimson eyes a mixture of rare emotions. Silence descended
upon the room for a moment.
At last, she flicked her hair out of her face, smiled softly, and shrugged. "Well,
sorry I'm late."
Prologue
By Spirit-hime
************
"Where is she?"
"She should have gotten off work hours ago."
"Have you tried calling her?"
"I hope this rain lets up."
"Maybe we should go looking for her."
"You think so?"
"She's a big girl. She can take care of herself."
The guests were all becoming antsy, and with good reason. Be here at
seven, they had said. Don't be late, you might miss her! But as the
hour approached eleven, the guest of honor still refused to make an
appearance. Cake frosting and party dresses alike began to melt under
the oppressive weight of expectant waiting. Wine and coke had long
become flat, food trays looked picked at and were showing the early
stages of staleness. October rain splattered against the darkened
windowpanes, creating eerie stomping noises throughout the spacious house.
Conversation was reduced to the occasional comment or impatient muttering.
While their spirits no longer soared as high as the ceiling, one
sparkling, shining silver banner managed to brighten the shady rafters.
The red letters upon it read "Happy Birthday Setsuna".
The plan had been in development for weeks. Few were aware of the date
of the mysterious woman's birthday, and those who were acknowledged it with
polite discreteness: on her bed in the early morning light she would find
a card from Hotaru, possibly with some flowers, and in the evening the
four women of the household would sit down to dinner together and gifts
would be left by her plate or her chair. She would not be expected to
open them immediately, or even with anyone watching, and she would thank
each accordingly in the days afterwards. That was how it went, just like
clockwork. Hotaru had once asked Setsuna why so little was done for her
birthday, but her eldest mother merely brushed her off, replying that birthdays
are not important to her. Upon asking the other women who shared the massive
house, the only answer she recieved was that Setsuna does not like birthdays.
Hotaru knew there was more to that, in the way that Setsuna often vanished
for the entire day, only to turn up again minutes before dinner. Or the way
that Haruka and Michiru were ever-so-careful to always have a fresh-cut dusty
purple rose set on the table on that day. That was her favorite flower,
Hotaru knew. The dusty purple rose with the strange name of "Blue Bird".
When the young woman discussed this unusual trend with her closest friend, Chibi
Usa, the pink haired girl instantly responded with an idea. A surprise party!
Surely Puu would love that! The girls giggled with anticipation as their party
ideas sprang forth. Hotaru's other adopted parents were not completely receptive
to the idea at first, but they soon succumed to the child's pleas. The plans were
carefully laid out with Puu's many other friends. Before long the entire party
had been established, complete with nine sailor senshi (plus a not-quite-as-female
senshi), three felines, and one chocolate
spice cake.
The sound of footsteps on the pavement outside brought everyone to attention.
"Quick, she's coming!"
The lights flicked off, bodies crouched down, Usagi recieving a hard pinch from
Rei to convince her to be quiet. The door swung open, creaking slightly on its
hinges. A figure stepped inside and reached for the light switch.
"SURPRISE!"
The question was, who was the surprise for?
It was Setsuna, alright. There was no mistaking that garnet hair. As it was, the
dark green strands had plastered themselves across her face and arms, one especially
annoying one finding its way between her eyes and down across her nose. Her face
looked a little more pale than it should have been, red-rimmed eyes painted with
mascara that smeared across her cheeks. Her long black skirt was frayed in the back,
and dripped with as much rain water as her hair, forming a puddle at her feet.
She did not scream in surprise, nor did she happily giggle at her friends. She
only stared at them, her crimson eyes a mixture of rare emotions. Silence descended
upon the room for a moment.
At last, she flicked her hair out of her face, smiled softly, and shrugged. "Well,
sorry I'm late."